Rusty Reckons: The Full Range of Southern Experience

The first weekend in May has become an interesting day in the South. From the blue bloods and FFV's to the good ole boys and rednecks, nearly everyone circles this date on the calendar. The first Saturday of May is of course when the pinnacle of horse racing takes place, the Kentucky Derby. No doubt Rusty's co-horts here at HHR will be waxing poetic about the ponies in the bluegrass. Equally important at the other end of the spectrum for NASCAR fans is the race at Richmond. Located in the capital of the old Confederacy, RIR is one of the best and most popular tracks on the circuit.

RIR is a three quarter mile relatively flat tri-oval that makes for some amazing racing. Last week, fans saw cars screaming through over 30 degrees of banking topping 200 mph. This week, RIR presents barely 14 degrees of banking with speeds hitting around 150, but the racing will be no less exciting. The short track at RIR requires an ability to brake into the corner and then get good grip out. Turn 2 is where a lot of the action is, as the groove narrows getting out of the corner and onto the back stretch. It's also not the best place to sit, cause the cars hit the gas there, making the noise in the first few rows deafening (ask Mrs. Rusty if you don't believe me ).



There are three current drivers with 3 wins at Richmond, Stewart, Junior, and Jimmie. I expect to see them continue their success and they should be running near the front, Stewart especially. The driver of the #14 car has been on the cusp of getting his first win for his new team. Richmond might offer him his best shot. Tony typically warms up with the weather. Other drivers to watch include the shrub, hometown favorite Denny Hamlin (shout out to my fellow Chesterfield fella!), and defending race winner Clint Bowyer. While Kyle has yet to win at Richmond, he does have the best average finishing position at just under 7. Hamlin and Bowyer are 2nd and 3rd among active drivers respectively.



So, whether you are watching 20 some horses in Kentucky or over 37,000 in Virginia, it's going to be a fast and exciting weekend for race fans from all walks of life.

JR Prediction

He didn't win at 'Dega, but he sure as shoot came close. Now, he comes to his best track. Junior excells at the three quarter mile short track in Richmond. Last year, if it wasn't for the idiocy of the shrub, he'd would be leading all active drivers with four wins, but rubbin's racing. This week, I expect Junior to be back towards the front. He will lead some laps, a lot of them. Barring anymore unforeseen idiocy, he'll be in the hunt at the end. Last week was the start of something beautiful for the 88 team, and this week it continues.

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Rusty's Raging at Richmond

It was a near picture perfect day. In 5 years, we've never had such good weather for the Virginia Gold Cup. So, there I was at the end of a good day watching a nearly snoozable race when it happened. The dominant leader began to fall back. There were only a handful of laps left. Junior battled for the lead and was out front. About 8 laps left, and then the worst thing . . . a caution!!!

He had begun to pull away from the Shrub, but now he'd be right back on his bumper. They would restart with just 5 laps to go.

4 laps to go and the Shrub was right up on his bumper coming out of 2 and going down the backstretch. Then it happened!!!!

That moron just wrecked my boy. The 88 went spinning down the backstretch smacking the wall hard. He'd rejoin the line in 16th with only 2 laps to go. It was over. The losing streak would continue another week. In the melee, Clint Bowyer got to the front and ended up with the win. Shrub finished 2nd, a very undeserving second.

Now, Junior says it was just a racing thing, and he doesn't seem mad at Kyle, but boy was he upset with what happened. I don't know any better than he does about what happened out there, but I do know this. Kyle needed extra security getting outta Richmond last night.

I understand it's a race, and everyone's just trying to win, but his checkers or wreckers style of driving needs to be corrected. My hope is that someone will correct him real quickly. Maybe this coming weekend at Darlington. The lady in black is a tough track to tame for a little nobody like the Shrub.

Ole Rusty will get over it, I reckon, but it's gonna be a tough pill to swallow. Seems my boy just can't catch a break.

Y'all come back now, hear?

Rusty Reckons: Richmond

Rusty's second favorite track is arguably the best track to see a race live. Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4 mile tri-oval with multiple groves of racing. Cars can pass high, low, and all over the track, even though passing on the bottom seems to be the preferred method of winning races with a little rubbin of course.

Under the lights at RIR is some of the best night racing, if not the best night racing all season. It'll probably be a bit chilly this weekend, which means the cars will have A LOT of grip. And since this is the 2nd year they've raced the COT at Richmond, they will have figured a few things out by now.

As usual, look for Hendrick and Gibbs to run up front, with Roush and RCR close behind. HMS has Dale Jr. who's best track is Richmond, and Gibbs has got the shrub who also excels in the capital of the confederacy. But don't count out Denny Hamlin. Hamlin is from Chesterfield (Rusty's home county), and just across the river from the track. He'd love to win at his home track, and he might have the equipment to do it, this year. This weekend's race also marks the 2 year anniversary of JR's last win, and after a disappointing late wreck last weekend the fans feel like he's on the cusp on breaking the streak. So, I'll go against convention and use the same driver 2 weeks in a row.

A List
- D Hamlin (11)
B List
- D Earnhardt Jr. (88)
C List
- P Menard (15)

Rusty Reflects on 'Dega

Well, it's taken ole Rusty a few days to digest the greatness that was Talladega. What a race!! I really hope y'all tuned in. Usually, the boys will ride around for hours waiting for the opportunity to get positions. Not this year. It seemed like from the moment the green flag dropped until the end everybody, and I mean everybody, was beating and banging, just jockeying for position.

As expected, "The Big One" occurred towards the end of the race and it took out a few great drivers, including my own beloved Dale Jr. Fortunately for me, and his legion of fans, he was still able to manage a top 10 finish, after starting 31st with just a handful of laps to go. HMS Power meets Earnhardt blood!!

But enough about my boy, I'm sure anyone who watched wants to know what ole Rusty thought of the Shrub's questionable pass for the lead. You see, NASCAR rules stipulate that at Daytona and Talladega, a driver cannot advance their position when their car (left side tires) are below the yellow line. It's NASCAR's out of bounds. At 'Dega on Sunday, the Shrub passed for the lead by going below the yellow line. NASCAR did not rule it a penalty because there is an exception when a driver is forced to go below the yellow line (to avoid wrecking).

As far as I can tell most of the pundits, fans, and reporters agree with NASCAR, but ole Rusty's just not sure. If that's what they ruled, that's what they ruled. Human error in rule enforcement is part of sports, but I don't know, just don't seem right to me.

I reckon what comes around, goes around, and Shrub's "checkers or wreckers" driving style will come back to bite him. I just hope he don't mess my boy up doing so.

But now, it's time for a little spit-n-shine for horseys followed by Rusty's favorite track to visit . . . Richmond.

So, y'all come back now, hear?